Lucas said deputies initially went to the house at 6366 Hickory Valley Road to serve outstanding warrants on Austin and a 30-year-old Lake City woman who was supposed to be at the house.

Austin was wanted for parole violation and the woman, Lucas said, had eight outstanding warrants against her. He said she was not at the house when deputies arrived, and neither was the resident.

The Department's special operations unit went to the house but when they arrived, they smelled anhydrous ammonia, Lucas said. They then got a search warrant, he said.

Lucas said deputies arrested the seven people after they found anhydrous ammonia tanks and other products associated with the making of meth. He said they also recovered a stolen pickup truck and a stolen handgun and seized a camper trailer and a vehicle.

They got to the house shortly before 3 p.m. and were still at the scene at 10:30 p.m. doing cleanup operations, he said.

Beverly Majors can be contacted at (865) 220-5514.

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